Colorado Jails PREA Demonstration Project

The Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Program provides funding to state governments for demonstration projects within local adult and juvenile confinement settings, including jails and juvenile detention facilities, law enforcement lockups and other temporary holding facilities, and tribal detention facilities. Funding is awarded to states that successfully communicate a comprehensive approach to the prevention, detection, and response to the incidence of sexual abuse and clearly prioritize gaps which are as of yet unaddressed, either programmatically or through changes in policy and procedures, as it relates to implementation of the PREA standards. The goal of this program is to assist local adult and juvenile facilities in implementing prevention, identification, and response mechanisms that will reduce the incidence of sexual abuse in confinement facilities.

The Colorado Jails PREA Demonstration Project will seek to prevent sexual abuse in two of Colorado's small jails by providing (for the first time) the resources and support necessary to these facilities for establishing zero-tolerance cultures and implementing the national PREA standards.

Just Detention International plans to work with the corrections team to analyze existing policies, identify areas for reform, and areas where new policies are needed. A draft model PREA policy will be developed and used as a template for other jails statewide. A staff training will be developed addressing sexual abuse behind bars, and PREA standards and new policies. Inmate education materials and programs will be developed and disseminated to inmates held for greater than 30 days. During site visits to each jail, JDI plans to work with the corrections team to identify blind spots, staff deficiencies, and other barriers to providing adequate sight and sound supervision to prevent sexual abuse.

JDI and the corrections team will identify and reach out to all relevant community partners to ensure that small jails draw as much as possible on existing resources. They will develop written protocols and memoranda of understanding, outlining each sexual assualt response team (SART) member's roles and responsibilities in responding to reports of sexual assault. They will also provide training and cross-training to all SART members.

JDI and the corrections team will work with local jail administrators from counties throughout Colorado, and the Colorado Jail Association (CJA) to assess needs, explore challenges, and develop useful tools. JDI will develop a report summarizing common challenges, potential solutions, model policies, and customizable templates. JDI and the corrections team will hold regional meetings through the CJA and the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) to share the lessons learned and provide local leadership and support to jails throughout Colorado.

CA/NCF